Letters to the President #1460: 'The big weekend'

Reporter's Note: President Obama’s second inauguration is now just days away. Which, in a way, could be a relief for a lot of people…

Dear Mr. President,

You may notice the number at the top of the page with confusion, as did I. At first, I assumed that I must have lost count since one letter per day for four years ought to be 4 x 365 =1460. Then I went back and checked and sure enough 2012 was a leap year, we picked up an extra day, and tomorrow will officially mark the complete four year mark in my letter writing campaign to you. And even though the official ceremony is on Sunday, I plan to write to you through the big public ceremony on Monday, so the final count will be 1,462 letters. And then I intend to stop.

Yes, sad, but true. We've been at this quite a while, haven’t we? Me writing letters to you each day, offering my heartfelt advice and wise counsel…or whatever I think might pass for that…and you steadfastly ignoring it. What a kidder you are! At least I think you are ignoring it. Perhaps you start every day with a shout down the hall, “Biden! Bring me the latest letter from Tom!” But I doubt it.

Truth be told, whether you've enjoyed it or not I have. As they say in Maine, “took to it like a duck to water.” Well, I’m not sure they say that in Maine, but seems as good a place as any to hear such a thing. In any event, within just a couple of months of starting this quest back on that cold January of 2009, I came to look forward to it each day. I liked setting aside a few minutes to set down my thoughts and send them your way. Sure, sometimes it was hard to find the time, and this past year it was harder and harder to come up with things to write about, but still I think I will miss it in some ways.

The question is, will you?

I have wondered many times if you have ever seen these letters or if you even know that they exist. (Word of advice: If you haven’t been following along I would not try to catch up now. Way too much reading.) I’ve also wondered if someone wrote to me this often would I bother to read every letter? Probably not. In fact, if I were you I likely would have sent the Secret Service to tell me to knock it off. Ha!

Look at this: Here the clock is fast running out and I’ve wasted my last Friday letter talking about how I’m down to my last few letters! Ah well. I have too much work yet to do to be ready for your inauguration, so I guess I better wrap it up.

More tomorrow (at least for now) and I hope your weekend goes well.

Regards,
Tom